Integrated customer interface system for communications network management

Abstract

A network management system allows a customer to manage communications services using a web server that communicates with a client web browser. The client is able to view information associated with various communications systems and services via the client web browser. The client is also able to submit requests for changes in service to the web server.

We claim:  
     
       1. An integrated customer interface system for communications network management, said system comprising: 
       at least one web server for managing client sessions over the internet, said session management including client validation and session encryption and decryption; and  
       at least one dispatch server for communicating with said web server and a plurality of system resources, said dispatch server providing verification of system access and proxy generation for interactive communications after client entitlements have been verified;  
       said plurality of system resource providing communications network management for said client, each of said system resources responsive to a request to generate client data or instructions for communications network management,  
       wherein said web server is configured to:  
       provide a client with information regarding the client's 800 number service,  
       receive commands associated with managing the client's 800 number service from the client via a web browser, and  
       provide the client with network communications and traffic information associated with the client's network communications services.  
     
     
       2. An integrated customer interface system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of system resources includes a proxy server for translating applet instructions to system resource instructions and data, and translating system resource data and communications to applet data for transmission to said web server and said client web browser. 
     
     
       3. An integrated customer interface system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said system resources reside on separate resource platforms, and said system provides interoperability to said client web browser for disparate and separate resource platforms. 
     
     
       4. An integrated customer interface system as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said client may view network communications and traffic of said client on one resource platform and manage client network communications on another disparate resource platform, with both functions performed within said system home page on said client web browser. 
     
     
       5. An integrated customer interface system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein separate java applets embedded in a home page of said system provide simultaneous session management for each of said resource platforms. 
     
     
       6. An integrated customer interface system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said dispatch server includes at least one dispatch server and a plurality of proxy servers, with a separate proxy server for each disparate system resource platform utilized by said system. 
     
     
       7. An integrated customer interface system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said system includes a report requester proxy server for translating client web page requests for report information and data into proxy requests for reports and data from a plurality of disparate resource platforms. 
     
     
       8. An integrated customer interface system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each client request from said web browser is encrypted with a public key and each client request includes a client signature encrypted with the client's private key for client authentication. 
     
     
       9. The integrated customer interface system of  claim 1 , wherein the web server is further configured to: 
       provide the client an interface for specifying a routing plan number.  
     
     
       10. The integrated customer interface system of  claim 9 , wherein the web server is further configured to: 
       receive a routing plan number from the client, and  
       verify that the client has privileges for the received routing plan number.  
     
     
       11. The integrated customer interface system of  claim 10 , wherein the web server is further configured to: 
       provide the client an interface for selecting a routing plan, and  
       provide at least one of a hierarchical tree representation and a spreadsheet view of the selected routing plan.